So, you’re eyeing EF Ultimate Break's Ultimate Europe tour? It’s one of those bucket-list trips, but let’s be real — it’s not cheap. If you’re sitting there wondering if it’s worth the investment, or you’ve already hit the ‘book now’ button and are low-key panicking about what you’ve signed up for, you’re in the right place.
I’m giving you the full breakdown — what to pack, how much to budget, and yes, the real truth about those long bus rides. No sugar-coating, just honest advice from someone who’s been there. Let’s dive in!
Is Ultimate Europe Right for You?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s talk about whether this trip even fits your vibe.
Here’s the deal: EF trips are for people who love doing stuff. If your idea of fun is knocking out tourist attractions, diving into cultural experiences, and following an itinerary that’s basically packed from morning to night — this is for you.
But if you’re someone who prefers lounging on the beach with a piña colada, sleeping in, and vibing without a schedule, this trip might not hit right. It’s fast-paced. We’re talking about new cities every 2-3 days, early wake-up calls, and lots of walking.
Free days? Sure, there is plenty of free time. But if you’re not exploring, you’re basically wasting your money.
As my friend Carmen always says, “We’ll sleep when we’re home.”
I’m also Type A, so I had itineraries for every city (yes, down to where we ate). I dragged my friends along, and according to them, they had a blast. If that’s also your vibe, you’re gonna thrive on this tour.
On another note, I also think this tour is perfect for people traveling to Europe for the first time and who want to tackle all of the major spots all at once.
Already convinced? Make sure to use my discount code for $100 off your booking (Use the link + code below). Plus, it also helps me keep traveling and making these reviews.
Transportation: Let’s Talk About the Bus Life
One thing no one really mentions? How much time you’ll spend on the road. Seriously, I tracked the hours — we’ll get to that in a sec.
First, the rundown:
Ferry — Overnight from London to Amsterdam (prepare for an early morning wake-up).
Boats — Venice (it’s bumpy, brace yourself) and Greece to Paros.
Train — Eurostar from Paris to London. Absolute breeze.
Flight — Rome to Athens. Easy.
Bus — This is your main ride. We spent a lot of hours on it, and it’s basically a European road trip.
Honestly? I loved the bus. Watching the countryside roll by (especially in Switzerland) was stunning. Our tour director literally woke us up because it was “too beautiful to miss.” She wasn’t wrong.
We spent an estimate of 49 total hours on the bus. Here are some tips for getting through those long trips.
Bus Survival Tips:
Nap! — You’re going to be exhausted. Sleep every chance you get.
Motion Sickness? — Sit at the front and bring Dramamine.
Bathroom Breaks — Don’t chug water before long stretches. Just trust me.
Entertainment — Download shows, bring a book, and pack snacks. Some buses have outlets, others don’t. Portable charger = lifesaver.
Where Do You Sleep? (Let’s Talk Hostels)
I did the ‘Essential’ trip, so we stayed in hostels. Expect 4-8 people in a room, depending on the city. If you want more privacy, the ‘Plus’ option gets you hotels and only one roommate (but it’s pricier).
Honestly? The hostels were solid. Amsterdam’s was rated the worst, but I thought it was clean and newly renovated. Switzerland’s was my fave, while London’s Generator Hostel was tiny (think: cramped college dorm vibes). Oh, and I got stuck in the bathroom in Prague for 5 minutes — fun times.
Here is the full list of the hostels we stayed in, with the number of roommates in each room:
Barcelona: Youth Hostel Pere Tarres
Central France: Premiere Classe Clermont Ferrand
Paris: EKLO Porte de Versailles
London: Generator London
Amsterdam: Hans Brinker Budget Hostel
Central Germany: IBIS Kassel Melsungen
Prague: Sophie's Hostel
Munich: Wombats City Munich
Engelberg (Switzerland): Grand Hostel
Venice: Anda Hostel
Florence: Plus Florence UB
Rome: Hostel Borgo Ripa
Athens: Breeze Boutique Hotel
Paros: Galatis Hotel
Keep in mind that EF has contracts with different hotels/ hostels in each city, and they book them based on the total number of travelers in the group and availability during those dates. Which means that these may not be the exact spots that you will get on your trip.
EF posts the hostel list in their app a few weeks before the trip, so you’ll know what to expect. Blow dryers? Most had them. Irons? Not so much.
Packing: Carry-On or Nah?
Checked bag? Hard pass. Trust me on this one.
Some hostels don’t have elevators. Imagine dragging a massive suitcase up four flights of stairs (Thanks, Rome). Yeah, no thanks. Go for a carry-on and a backpack instead.
I packed for two months (including 10 days in Portugal) in a TJ Maxx carry-on and a Bagsmart backpack. Packing for different climates was tough. It was hot in Spain, freezing in Paris, and warm again in Italy.
Packing Tips:
Capsule Wardrobe — Pack pieces you can mix and match. Layers are your best friend.
Laundry — You’ll find spots almost in every city. I did mine in Barcelona, London, Munich, and Venice.
Essentials — Adapter, portable charger, rain gear (fall & spring travelers), towel, and a neck pillow for the bus.
I’ll drop a packing video for this tour on YouTube soon.
Budgeting: How Much Do You Really Spend?
I can’t give you an exact number, but I budgeted $2000 and... definitely spent more. YOLO moments happened. It was all for the experience.
Where Your Money Goes:
Food — EF covers breakfast, but you’re on your own for lunch/dinner. Grab-and-go options save cash. Sit-down meals? Treat yourself, but keep it rare in pricey cities like Paris, London, Munich, and Switzerland.
Excursions — Eiffel Tower, Colosseum, pasta-making classes — all extras. Your TD will have add-ons too (they’re optional, but worth it).
Miscellaneous — Toiletries, souvenirs, spontaneous thrift store splurges in Notting Hill (guilty).
In terms of cash versus card, I brought $1000 in cash and spent it all. You can use your credit card in most places (Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted; leave your AMEX at home).
Italy, Prague, and Greece are the only spots where you might not be able to use your card for everything, so make sure to set some Euros aside. If you need to take out cash, ask your Tour Director for locations that have safe ATMs. By safe, I mean machines that are reputable and won’t steal your information.
Budget $50/day for food, and plan for excursions. Overall, I’d plan to budget anywhere from $2500-$3000 of spending money. I’ll share exactly how much I spent if people really want to know. Let me know in the comments section!
Will You Make Friends?
Honestly? Most likely, yes. I didn’t plan on it, but I left 2 best friends. We’re already planning our next trip (Japan 2025!).
EF will typically assign roommates who are around your age, and the people you bunk with tend to become your closest travel buddies. But if you’re shy and you’re worried about this, I recommend signing up for extra excursions during the first few days.
This way, you have more opportunities to get to know the other travelers.
How to Prepare For EF's Ultimate Europe:
I actually asked my fellow trip mates on the last day of the trip to share their tips for future travelers doing this tour, so I’m gonna rapid-fire a few things that they wish they knew before they did Ultimate Europe.
Internet & Data — Get an e-sim or international plan for your phone.
You’ll do a lot of walking — Bring comfortable shoes.
The language barrier — The only place where everyone struggled a bit was in Paris — but everywhere else, most people spoke English.
Flexibility — There are a lot of ‘free days’ on this trip. So make sure to make some plans and schedule tours ahead of time.
Don’t be afraid to take time to rest — Sometimes you might feel under the weather. Don’t be afraid to take a day off, catch up on sleep, and focus on your health.
For gluten-free people — Italy might be a tough time for you. Be careful with cross contamination.
If you’re booking this trip, get ready for an amazing time. And if you’re interested in finding out more, or you need inspo for your upcoming tour, make sure to watch the Ultimate Europe vlog series, starting with the first stop: Barcelona!
That’s the rundown! Got questions? Drop them in the comments, and I’ll spill more tea.
Commentaires